Taipei: Around 1,000 people attended a Migrant Workers Rally in Taipei on Sunday to appeal for an end to the work-year limit that will soon send some of them home and to question the working conditions they face.

According to Focus Taiwan, Indonesian manufacturing worker Ignas, who is employed by a meat processing factory, expressed a mix of emotions, including sadness and disappointment, at the rally themed "Abolish the work-year limit." Ignas has worked in Taiwan for 11 years, one short of the limit he faces. He emphasized the significant contributions of migrant workers to Taiwan and questioned why they are not allowed to continue working and residing in the country.

Taiwan currently hosts 800,000 migrant workers. Under existing regulations, those in blue-collar jobs in construction and manufacturing can work in Taiwan for a maximum of 12 years, while caregivers can work for up to 14 years after meeting certain criteria. Ignas highlighted that many experienced migrant workers have become highly skilled and questioned the rationale behind the imposed limits.

Another participant, Indonesian caregiver Fajar, shared her concerns with CNA as she approaches the end of her permitted stay in Taiwan after 12 years. She expressed feeling marginalized and worried about readjusting to life in Indonesia after building social and economic ties in Taiwan. Fajar argued that abolishing the work-year limit could help reduce the number of migrant workers who resort to working illegally in Taiwan after reaching the cap.

Wu Jing-ru, spokesperson for the event organizer Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan, suggested that as Taiwan faces a labor shortage, the government should retain experienced migrant workers instead of relying on brokers to bring in new workers from abroad.

Additionally, a Filipino factory worker at TaiDoc Technology Corp. joined the march to protest what she described as unnecessary rules imposed by the company's management. Despite improvements following union formation, she hopes for continued positive changes and fair compensation.

TaiDoc responded to union accusations, stating that their dormitory management practices aim to ensure cleanliness, order, and safety. The company has adjusted some measures based on feedback from migrant workers.

In response to the rally, the Ministry of Labor reiterated that its Long-term Retention of Skilled Foreign Workers Program, introduced in April 2022, allows admitted migrant workers to stay in Taiwan without being subject to the work-year limit. As of late November, around 60,000 migrant workers had been admitted to the program, with an average increase of more than 16,000 per year.